Table 2 Mediating effects of lifestyle factors on the association between years of education and self-reported FM

≤ 9 vs. ≥ 13

Total Effect (TE)

Direct effect (DE)

Indirect Effect (IE)¹

IE: BMI

IE: PA

IE: Smoking

IE: Alcohol

2.56 (2.32–2.91)

2.18 (1.98–2.47)

1.18 (1.14–1.21)

1.04 (1.03–1.05)

1.01 (1.01–1.02)

1.05 (1.03–1.06)

1.07 (1.04–1.08)

82.7 (78.4–85.7)

17.3 (14.3–21.6)

3.9 (2.9–5.2)

1.4 (0.5–2.4)

5.0 (3.5–6.7)

7.0 (4.8–9.5)

10– 12 vs. ≥ 13

Total effect (TE)

Direct effect (DE)

Indirect Effect (IE)¹

IE: BMI

IE: PA

IE: Smoking

IE: Alcohol

1.84 (1.72–2.02)

1.69 (1.58–1.86)

1.09 (1.07–1.11)

1.02 (1.02–1.03)

1.01 (1.00–1.01)

1.03 (1.02–1.05)

1.03 (1.02–1.04)

85.9 (81.1–88.7)

14.1 (11.3–18.9)

3.3 (2.5–4.4)

0.8 (0.2–1.5)

5.6 (4.0–8.1)

4.5 (3.0–6.6)